News Center- Looking at the consequences of the coronavirus pandemic on a gender basis, women are among the most affected people. Women have to take extra burden not only at work but also at home. According to the report entitled, “The World of Work and COVID-19” released by the International Labour Organization, 632 million female workers are at risk of losing their jobs.  Women are not only hit by the loss of jobs but also by expenditure cuts that contract public service provision, in particular care services. 

Women's employment has been a problem for many years in Turkey. Since 2001, when the AKP came to power, female employment rates have always been below expectations. The conservative policies of the government have tried to keep women locked at homes.

More than one million women become unemployed

According to data, more than 10 million people have become unemployed in Turkey since March, the beginning of the pandemic.  Women are most affected by unemployment. More than one million women have become unemployed during the pandemic. Women's employment was decreased by 11.9 percent in the last year. Working hours have increased and working conditions have become more challenging in sectors such as health care, elderly and disabled care services, social services, home, and catering services, education, and food.

Women are threatened

The condition of women working in factories has become worse. Women have been threatened to be fired during the pandemic. The termination of employment has been banned in Turkey but the workers have been threatened to be fired due to absenteeism by bosses.